Ghețarul Focul Viu

Ghețarul Focul Viu is a permanent ice cave located in the Munții Bihorului, within the Parcul Natural Apuseni, on Valea Galbenă, near Vârful Piatra Galbenii and Vârful Cuculeul de Fier, at an altitude of approximately 1,165 m. The cavity is part of the karst complex of the Munții Apuseni, an area renowned for its high density of karst phenomena. The cave is small in size and consists of two chambers. The Sala Mare, approximately 68 m in length and around 46 m in height, shelters a massive block of fossil ice with an estimated volume of 25,000 m³, ranking it third among underground glaciers in Romania, after those at Peștera Scărișoara and Avenul Borțig. The vault of the Sala Mare is partially open through a wide skylight in the ceiling, through which light, snow and plant matter from the surface enter. The existence of the ice block is explained by two factors: the skylight in the ceiling promotes the accumulation of cold air, while the absence of ventilation keeps this air trapped throughout the year. The name "Focul Viu" (Living Fire) derives from the optical phenomenon that occurs around noon, when the sun's rays enter through the ceiling opening and reflect off the ice formations, creating the impression that the block is engulfed in flames. The cave is well known in Romanian speleological literature and constitutes one of the major attractions of the Parcul Natural Apuseni. As a cavity with a special protection regime, access to the interior is restricted, and the ice block can be observed from a designated viewing point.